Electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles

ABSTRACT

An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles includes a supporting body fixed to a handlebar of a bicycle, a supporting body, a pair of electric switches to control the gear change carried by the supporting body, and a gear change lever that can be manually operated to control a first of said switches. The gear change lever comprises a first part connected to the supporting body so as to consent shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position, and a second part hinged to the first part.

The present invention relates to an electric control device for amotor-driven derailleur for bicycles.

More precisely, the invention relates to a control device of the typecomprising:

-   -   a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle        handlebar,    -   a brake control lever hinged to the supporting body,    -   a pair of electric switches to control gear change carried by        the supporting body, and    -   a gear change lever that can be operated manually to control at        least one of said switches.

A control device of the type specified above is known from the U.S. Pat.No. 5,470,277 by the same Applicant, which describes an electric controldevice provided with two switches positioned in a supporting body fixedto the handlebar of a bicycle. A first switch is operated by a gearchange lever positioned immediately behind the brake control lever and asecond switch is operated by a push button positioned on a side wall ofthe supporting body. The two electric switches may be used to operate inopposite directions an electric motor associated with a derailleur forbicycles. Operation of the derailleur motor in a first direction shiftsthe chain in a first direction, for example towards higher speed gearsand operation in the opposite direction shifts the chain in the oppositedirection, for example towards lower speed gears.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,036 describes an electric controldevice for a bicycle including a gear change switch supported by thebrake lever. A second gear change switch may be positioned near thebrake lever. This solution is less advantageous than the one in whichboth switches are positioned on the supporting body, as it is necessaryto take an electric connection to the brake lever which pivots inrelation to the supporting body.

The object of the present invention is to provide an electric controldevice of an improved type which is ergonomic, of simple constructionand more functional than prior art devices.

According to the present invention, this object is attained by a controldevice with the characteristics contained in claim 1.

The present invention shall now be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings, provided purely as a non-limiting example, inwhich:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are sectional side views of a control device according tothe present invention in two operating positions,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sections according to the line III-III in FIG. 1 intwo operating positions,

FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively show a second and a third variant of thesolution illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,

FIG. 7 shows a fourth variant of the solution according to theinvention,

FIG. 8 is a detail in a larger scale of the encircled part in FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 shows the variant in FIG. 7 in the operating position,

FIG. 10 is a detail in a larger scale of the encircled part in FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 shows a fifth variant of the solution according to theinvention,

FIG. 12 shows the variant in FIG. 11 in the operating position,

FIG. 13 is a section corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a variant of thesolution according to FIG. 3, and

FIG. 14 is a partially sectioned plan view of a further embodiment ofthe present invention.

With reference to FIGS. from 1 to 4, number 10 indicates an electriccontrol device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles. The controldevice according to the present invention may be used to control amotor-driven gear change, for example of the type described in the U.S.Pat. No. 5,470,277 by the same Applicant.

The control device 10 comprises a supporting body 12 provided with meansof conventional type for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar 14. Thecontrol device 10 comprises a brake control lever 16 hinged to thesupporting body 12 by means of a pivot pin 18. One end 20 of a brakecontrol cable 22 is fixed in a conventional manner to a top portion ofthe brake control lever 16. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the brakecontrol lever 16 may be made to pivot manually around the pivot pin 18to control the brake of the bicycle, in an entirely conventional manner.

The supporting body 12 carries a pair of electric switches to controlgear change, indicated with 24 and 26 in FIGS. 3 and 4. In accordancewith a first embodiment of the invention, these switches are positionedon opposite faces of a supporting plate 28 fixed to the supporting body12. The switches 24, 26 are microswitches per se known, including a bodyfixed to the supporting plate 28 and a mobile operating push button. Theoperating push buttons of the switches are covered by respectivedeformable membranes. In the Figures, the real switches are not visibleand therefore the reference numbers 24, 26 used to distinguish theswitches in fact indicate the deformable membranes of the switches. Inthe example of embodiment shown in the Figures, the supporting plate 28also carries a third switch 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) suitable to control acycle computer (not shown).

The first switch 24 is provided for operating an electric motor for gearchange (not shown) in a first direction for example to shift the chaintowards higher speed gears (or upshifting). The second switch 26 isprovided for operating the same gear change motor in the oppositedirection, for example to shift the chain towards lower speed gears (ordownshifting). The control device 10 may be used irrespectively tocontrol the front derailleur or the rear derailleur of a bicycle.Therefore, in the control device positioned on the right side of thehandlebar of the bicycle (normally used to control the rear derailleur)the switch 24 controls shift towards lower speed gears (that is towardsgears with a larger number of teeth) and the switch 26 controls shifttowards higher speed gears (gears with a smaller number of teeth). Onthe contrary, in the control device positioned on the left side of thehandlebar, usually destined to control the front derailleur, thesituation is reversed so that the switch 24 controls shift towardshigher speed gears (towards a sprocket wheel with a larger number ofteeth) and the switch 26 controls shift towards lower speed gears(towards a sprocket wheel with a smaller number of teeth).

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4 the switch 26 facing theexternal side of the supporting body is preferably controlled by apush-button lever (indicated by the reference number 80 in FIG. 14) thatcan be pushed downwardly by the cyclist's thumb while the hand engagesthe supporting body 12 or the curved part of the handlebar 14, asdescribed in the Italian patent application no. TO2000A000540 by thesame applicant, not yet published on the filing date of the presentapplication.

The control device 10 comprises a gear change lever (or control lever)38 connected in a pivoting manner to the supporting body 12 andpositioned immediately behind the brake control lever 16. The lever 38is composed of two separate parts hinged together an upper part 40hinged to the supporting body 12 around a first axis 42 and a lower part44 hinged to the upper part 40 around a second axis 46. The two pivotalaxes 42, 46 are orthogonal or substantially orthogonal in relation toeach other. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the first axis 42extends along a substantially orthogonal direction in relation to thepivotal axis 18 of the brake control lever 16 and, consequently, thesecond pivotal axis 46 is parallel or substantially parallel in relationto the pivotal axis 18 of the brake control lever 16. Alternatively,this layout could be inverted so that the upper part 40 of the lever 38is hinged to the supporting body 12 around an axis parallel orsubstantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the brake control leverwhile the lower part 44 of the lever 38 is hinged to the upper part 40around an axis orthogonal to the pivotal axis of the brake controllever.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the upper part 40 of the lever38 is hinged to the supporting body 12 by means of a pin 48 whichextends according to a direction substantially parallel in relation tothe supporting plate 28 which carries the control switches of the gearchange 24, 26. A first return spring 50 is associated with the upperpart 40 of the lever 38 and tends to hold the lever 38 in the positionat rest shown in FIG. 3. The lower part 44 and the upper part 40 of thelever 38 are hinged to each other by means of a pin 52. The pin 52 has ahead 53 facing the switch 24. A second return spring 54 is positionedcoaxially to the pin 52 and cooperates with the two parts 40, 44 of thelever 38. The spring 54 tends to push the second part 44 towards itsposition at rest shown in FIG. 1.

As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, when the control lever of thebrake 16 pivots around its pivotal axis 18 to control braking, the firstpart 40 of the lever 38 remains motionless, while the second part 44 ofthe lever 38 pivots around the pivotal axis 46 and follows the movementof the brake control lever. When the brake control lever 16 is released,the second return spring 54 returns the second part 44 of the lever 38to the position at rest in FIG. 1. To control gear change, the cyclistapplies light pressure in the direction indicated by the arrow 56 inFIGS. 3 and 4 to a control portion 58 of the lever 38. Following thispressure, the lever 38 pivots around the first axis 42 as illustrated inFIG. 4 and the head 53 of the pin 52 operates the switch 24. When thecyclist releases the pressure on the control portion 58, the gear changelever 38 is returned to the position at rest shown in FIG. 3 under thereturn action of the spring 50. It can be noted that the pin 52 alwaysremains facing the switch 24, even when the second part 44 of the lever38 pivots around the axis 46 to follow the braking movement of the brakecontrol lever 16. Therefore, the cyclist may control gear change bymeans of the lever 38 even while operating the brake control lever 16,as shown in FIG. 2.

In the variant shown in FIG. 5, the lower part 44 of the lever 38 has anoperating portion 60 facing the switch 24 and the pin 52 is movedupwards in relation to the switch 24. In the variant shown in FIG. 6 thepin 52 is moved downwards in relation to the switch 24 and the upperpart 40 of the lever 38 has an operating portion 62 facing the switch24. Operation of the devices according to the variants in FIGS. 5 and 6is identical to the operation described previously, the only variationbeing that the switch 24 is operated by the portions 60 and 62 asopposed to the head 53 of the pin 52.

The gear change lever 38 may be associated with a check device thatlimits the pivoting stroke of the lever 38, to avoid damages to theswitch 24 in the case in which the lever 38 is pushed against the switchwith excessive force. This check device may be produced as described inthe Italian patent application no. TO2000A000540 by the same Applicant.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show an alternative embodiment of the control deviceaccording to the present invention. The parts corresponding to thosepreviously described are indicated with the same reference numbers. Inthis embodiment, the upper part 40 of the gear change lever 38 iscomposed of an elastic element which may be used to shift the lower part44 of the gear change lever 38 between the position at rest shown inFIGS. 7 and 8 and the operating position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Theupper part 40 of the gear change lever 38 is preferably composed of anelastic lamina of metal material with a base 64 fixed to the support 12,for example by means of a screw 66. The lamina has an elasticallydeformable branch 68 at the lower end of which the lower part 44 ishinged by means of a pin 52. In the position at rest, the deformablebranch 68 holds the lower part 44 in the position shown in FIGS. 7 and8. When the cyclist applies pressure to the control portion 58 in thedirection indicated by the arrows 56, the deformable branch 68 of theupper portion 40 becomes elastically deformed and allows the lowerportion 44 to move towards the operating position shown in FIGS. 9 and10. When the cyclist releases the pressure on the operating portion 58,the deformable branch 68 of the upper portion 40 elastically returns toits position at rest and returns the lower portion 44 of the gear changelever to the position at rest shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a further embodiment of the control deviceaccording to the invention. In this case, the upper part 40 of the gearchange lever 38 is composed of a block which slides in a directionparallel or substantially parallel in relation to the operatingdirection of the switch 24. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,the block forming the upper part 40 is slidably mounted on a pair ofguide elements 70 integral with the supporting body 12 and which extendin an orthogonal direction in relation to the plate 28 carrying theswitches 24, 26. An elastic element 72, composed for example of acompressed helical screw, is interposed between the block and the plate28 and tends to maintain the block in the position at rest shown in FIG.11. At its lower end, the block forming the upper end 40 carries thepivot pin 52 around which the lower part 44 of the lever 38 is mountedpivotally. FIGS. 11 and 12 show the control device in the position atrest and in the operating position, respectively. As in the casedescribed above, shift from the position at rest to the operatingposition is obtained by applying pressure on the control portion 58 andthe lever 38 returns to the position at rest by the action of the spring72 after releasing the pressure in the direction indicated by the arrow56.

The described embodiments perform the upshifting and the downshifting bymeans of two levers (the control lever 38 and the push button lever 80).In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, both saidfunctions can be performed by a single lever.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first switch 24 can be mounted on a first plate28 and the second switch 26 can be mounted on a second plate 29 facingthe first plate 28. The pin 52 is preferably provided with a second head55 facing the second switch 26. The control lever 38 is illustrated in acentral rest position in which none of the two switches 24 or 26 isoperated. The control lever 38 can be pivoted in a first direction 56for operating the first switch 24 and in the opposite direction 57 tooperate the second switch 26.

The control lever 38 can operate both the switches 24 and 26 also in theembodiments in accordance with FIGS. 5 to 12. In these embodiments thefirst switch 24 can be mounted on a first plate 28 and the second switch26 can be mounted on a second plate 29 facing the first plate 28.Further, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower part 44 ofthe control lever 38 can present a second operating portion (not shown),opposite to the operating portion 60 and, respectively, 62 to operatethe second switch 26. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10, the pin 52 canbe provided with a second head 55, to operate the second switch 26 andin the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 the block 40 of upper part of thecontrol lever 38 can operate, with its opposing surfaces, both theswitches 24 and 26.

As a further alternative of the present invention, as schematicallyindicated in FIG. 14, both the switches 24 and 26 can be operated by thepush button lever 80. In the plan view of FIG. 14, the push button lever80 is illustrated in a central rest position in which none of the twoswitches 24 or 26 is operated. The push button lever 80 can be pusheddownwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 82 to operate a firstof said switches 24, 26 or pulled upwardly in the direction indicated bythe arrow 81 to operate the other of said switches. The push buttonlever 80 can operate the switches 24 and 26 in any known manner, bymeans of either a pivotable or sliding movement, or any others kind ofmovement.

Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, theconstructional details and embodiments may vary widely in relation towhat is described and illustrated herein purely as an example, withouthowever departing from the scope of the present invention as defined inthe accompanying claims.

1. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicyclehandlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switchof a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in at leasttwo directions, and positioned so that movement in a first directionbrings said lever into operating contact with said at least one switchand movement in a second direction has no operating influence on said atleast one switch.
 2. A control lever according to claim 1, wherein saidat least two directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.3. A control lever according to claim 1, wherein said lever is movablein a third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in athird direction brings said lever into operating contact with a secondswitch.
 4. A control lever according to claim 1, wherein said movementin the first direction for operating said first switch is performed by afirst lever part and said movement in a second direction having noinfluence on said first switch is performed by a second lever part.
 5. Acontrol lever according to claim 3, wherein said movement in a thirddirection for bringing said lever into operating contact with saidsecond switch is performed by a first lever part.
 6. A control leveraccording to claim 5, wherein a second lever part is movable withrespect to said first lever part.
 7. A control lever according to claim6, wherein said first lever part is fixed to a supporting body of saidbicycle.
 8. A control lever according to claim 6, wherein said secondlever part is articulated on said first lever part around a pivotingaxis.
 9. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on abicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least oneswitch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in atleast two directions, and positioned so that movement in a firstdirection brings said lever into operating contact with said at leastone switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influenceon said at least one switch; wherein said lever is movable in a thirddirection and positioned so that movement of the lever in a thirddirection brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch;wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing said lever intooperating contact with said second switch is performed by a first leverpart; wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said firstlever part; wherein said second lever part is articulated on said firstlever part around a first axis; and wherein said first lever part actson said first switch by pivoting around a second axis in the firstdirection, wherein the first axis and the second axis are offset fromeach other.
 10. A control lever according to claim 9, wherein said firstlever part acts on said second switch by pivoting around said secondaxis in a second direction.
 11. A control lever attached to a supportbody, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, foroperating at least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said controllever is movable in at least two directions, and positioned so thatmovement in a first direction brings said lever into operating contactwith said at least one switch and movement in a second direction has nooperating influence on said at least one switch, wherein said lever ismovable in a third direction and positioned so that movement of thelever in a third direction brings said lever into operating contact witha second switch, wherein a second lever part is movable with respect toa first lever part, wherein said second lever part is articulated onsaid first lever part around a first axis, wherein said first lever partacts on said second switch by pivoting around said second axis in asecond direction, and wherein said second axis is substantiallyperpendicular with respect to said first axis.
 12. A control leveraccording to claim 9 further comprising an articulation pin about whichthe control lever articulates, and a head on said pin for operating saidfirst switch.
 13. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted ona bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at leastone switch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movablein at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in a firstdirection brings said lever into operating contact with said at leastone switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influenceon said at least one switch, comprising an articulation pin having ahead for operating said first switch, wherein said lever is movable in athird direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in a thirddirection brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch,wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing said lever intooperating contact with said second switch is performed by a first leverpart, wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said firstlever part, wherein said second lever part is articulated on said firstlever part around a first axis, wherein said first lever part acts onsaid first switch by pivoting around a second axis in the firstdirection, and wherein said articulation pin has two opposite heads foroperating, respectively, said first and said second switches,respectively.
 14. A control lever according to claim 9 furthercomprising a torsional spring relatively associated between the firstlever part and the second lever part.
 15. A control lever according toclaim 8, wherein the first lever part comprises an elasticallydeformable element.
 16. A control lever attached to a support body,mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operatingat least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said cuntrul lever ismovable in at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in afirst direction brings said lever into operating contact with said atleast one switch and movement in a second direction has no operatinginfluence on said at least one switch; wherein said lever is movable ina third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in athird direction brings said lever into operating contact with a secondswitch; wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing saidlever into operating contact with said second switch is performed by afirst lever part; wherein a second lever part is movable with respect tosaid first lever part; wherein said second lever part is articulated onsaid first lever part around a first axis; wherein the first axis andthe second axis are offset from each other; and wherein the first leverpart acts on said first switch by a means for sliding the first leverpart.
 17. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on abicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least oneswitch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in atleast two directions, and positioned so that movement in a firstdirection brings said lever into operating contact with said at leastone switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influenceon said at least one switch; wherein said lever is movable in a thirddirection and positioned so that movement of the lever in a thirddirection brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch;wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing said lever intooperating contact with said second switch is performed by a first leverpart; wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said firstlever part; wherein said second lever part is articulated on said firstlever part around a first axis; wherein the first axis and the secondaxis are offset from each other; and wherein the first lever part actson said first switch by means of elastic means for biasing the firstlever part away from the first switch.
 18. A control lever according toclaim 3, wherein the lever is provided with at least one operatingportion for operating at least one of said switches.
 19. A control leveraccording claim 18, wherein a second lever part is provided with atleast one operating portion for operating at least one of said switches.20. A control lever according to claim 1, wherein said at least oneswitch controls the gear change of a bicycle.
 21. A control leveraccording to claim 1, wherein said lever is positioned behind a bicyclebrake lever.
 22. A control lever according to claim 21, wherein saidsecond movement which does not influence the switch is the brakingmovement of the brake lever.
 23. An electric control device for amotor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising a supporting bodyprovided with means for fixing the supporting body to a bicyclehandlebar and a first switch for controlling an upshift of a gear and asecond switch for controlling a down shift of a gear, wherein both ofsaid electric switches are operated by a single lever attached to thesupport body.
 24. Electric control device according to claim 23, whereinsaid single lever presents a central rest position in which none of saidelectric switches is operated.
 25. Electric control device according toclaim 24, wherein said single lever operates one of said electricswitches when moved in a first direction and operates the other of saidelectric switches when moved in the substantially opposed direction. 26.Electric control device according to claim 23, wherein said single leveris hinged on said supporting body.
 27. Electric control device accordingto claim 23, wherein said single lever is hinged on a bicycle brakecontrol lever.
 28. Electric control device according to claim 23,wherein said single lever is a control lever positioned behind a bicyclebrake control lever.
 29. Electric control device according to claim 26,wherein said single lever is a push button lever positionedsubstantially perpendicular to a brake control lever of the bicycle. 30.An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles,comprising: a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to abicycle handlebar, a pair of electric switches to control the gearchange, carried by the supporting body, and a gear change lever that canbe operated manually to control at least one of said switches, whereinthe gear change lever comprises: a first part connected to thesupporting body in order to allow shift of the gear change lever betweena position at rest and an operating position of said first switch, and aa second part hinged to the first part about a pin, with the first partand second parts contacting a torsion spring that is mounted on the pin.31. Device according to claim 30, wherein said first part is hinged tothe supporting body around an axis orthogonal or substantiallyorthogonal in relation to a pivotal axis of the pin.
 32. Deviceaccording to claim 30, wherein said first part comprises an elasticallydeformable element.
 33. An electric control device for a motor-drivenderailleur for bicycles, comprising: a supporting body provided withmeans for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, a pair of electric switchesto control the gear change, carried by the supporting body, and a gearchange lever that can be operated manually to control at least one ofsaid switches. wherein the gear change lever comprises: a first partconnected to the supporting body in order to allow shift of the gearchange lever between a position at rest and an operating position ofsaid first switch, and a second part hinged to the first part, whereinsaid first part comprises an elastically deformable element comprising ametal lamina with a base fixed to the supporting body and an elasticallydeformable branch hinged to which is the second part.
 34. An electriccontrol device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising: asupporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicyclehandlebar, a pair of electric switches to control the gear change,carried by the supporting body, and a gear change lever that can beoperated manually to control at least one of said switches, wherein thegear change lever comprises: a first part connected to the supportingbody in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a positionat rest and an operating position of said first switch, and a secondpart hinged to the first part, wherein said first part comprises a blockmounted slibably in relation to the supporting body along a rectilineardirection.
 35. Device according to claim 34, wherein said block ismounted slidably on guide means carried by the supporting body. 36.Device according to claim 35 further comprising elastic means tending topush said block towards a rest position.
 37. An elastic control devicefor a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising: a supportingbody provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, a pair ofelectric switches to control the gear change, carried by the supportingbody, and a gear change lever that can be operated manually to controlat least one of said switches, wherein the gear change lever comprises:a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift ofthe gear change lever between a position at rest and an operatingposition of said first switch, and p1 a second part hinged to the firstpart about a pin, with the first part and second parts contacting atorsion spring that is mounted on the pin, wherein said first part ishinged to the supporting body around an axis orthogonal or substantiallyorthogonal in relation to a pivotal axis of the pin, and wherein one ofsaid axes is parallel or substantially parallel to and offset from thepivotal axis of a brake control lever.
 38. Device according to claim 37,wherein the pivotal axis between the first and the second part isparallel or substantially parallel to a pivotal axis of the bicyclebrake control lever.
 39. Device according to claim 30, wherein the pinhas at least one head facing and capable of contacting at least one ofsaid switches.
 40. Device according to claim 30, wherein the second partof the gear change lever has an operating portion facing and capable ofcontacting at least one of said switches.
 41. Device according to claim30, wherein the first part of the gear change lever has an operatingportion facing and capable of contacting at least one of said switches.42. Device according to claim 30 further comprising a return springoperatively positioned between the supporting body and the first part ofthe gear change lever.
 43. Device according to claim 42 furthercomprising a second return spring operatively positioned between thefirst and the second part of the gear change lever.
 44. Device accordingto claim 30, further comprising a third electric switch suitable tocontrol operation of a cycle computer.
 45. Device according to claim 30,wherein said electric switches are mounted on a supporting plate incontact with the supporting body.
 46. An electric control device for amotor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising: a supporting bodyprovided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, a pair ofelectric switches to control the gear change, carried by the supportingbody, and a gear change lever that can be operated manually to controlat least one of said switches, wherein the gear change lever comprises:a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift ofthe gear change lever between a position at rest and an operatingposition of said first switch, and a second part hinged to the firstpart, wherein said electric switches are positioned and mounted onopposite faces of a supporting plate in turn mounted on the supportingbody.
 47. Device according to claim 30, wherein said gear change leveris movable in a first direction to operate a first switch and in asecond direction to operate a second switch.
 48. An electric controldevice for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising: asupporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicyclehandlebar, a pair of electric switches to control the gear change,carried by the supporting body, and a gear change lever that can beoperated manually to control at least one of said switches, wherein thegear change lever comprises: a first part connected to the supportingbody in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a positionat rest and an operating position of said first switch, and a secondpart hinged to the first part about a pin, with the first part andsecond parts contacting a torsion spring that is mounted un the pin;wherein said switches are mounted on opposite sides with respect to thegear change lever.
 49. Device according to claim 48, wherein saidswitches are mounted on respective plates facing each other.
 50. Deviceaccording to claim 30, wherein said gear control lever is positionedbehind a brake control lever hinged to the supporting body.
 51. Acontrol lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebaradjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switch of abicycle electric device, said control lever is movable rotatable aboutin at least two directions separate axes, independently of the brakelever, and positioned so that movement in rotation of said control leverabout a first direction axis brings said lever into operating contactwith said at least one switch, while movement rotation of said controllever about in a second direction axis has no operating influence onsaid at least one switch, and movement in rotation about said seconddirection axis does not move said at least one switch.
 52. An electriccontrol device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising: asupporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicyclehandlebar, a pair of electric switches to control a gear change, fixedto the supporting body, and a gear change lever that can be operatedmanually to control at least one of said pair of switches, wherein thegear change lever comprises: a first part connected to the supportingbody in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a positionat rest and an operating position of said first at least one of saidpair of switches, and a second part hinged to the first part about apin, wherein movement of the second part about an axis of the pin has noeffect on either of the pair of switches.
 53. A control lever attachedto a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brakelever, for operating at least one a first switch of a bicycle electricdevice, said control lever is movable in at least two directions, andpositioned so that movement in a first direction brings said lever intooperating contact with said at least one first switch and movement in asecond direction has no operating influence on said at least one firstswitch, comprising an articulation pin having a head for operating saidfirst switch, wherein said lever is movable in a third direction andpositioned so that movement of the lever in a third direction bringssaid lever into operating contact with a second switch, wherein saidmovement in said third direction for bringing said lever into operatingcontact with said second switch is performed by a first lever part,wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said first leverpart, wherein said second lever part is articulated on said first leverpart around a first axis, wherein said first lever part acts on saidfirst switch by pivoting around a second axis in the first direction,and wherein said articulation pin has two opposite heads for operatingat least one of said first and said second switches.
 54. A control leverattached to a support body mounted on a bicycle handlebar, said supportbody including a brake lever arranged adjacent to said control lever,said control lever being rotatable about at least two separate axes,independently of the brake lever, for operating at least one switchassociated with a bicycle electric device, and said at least one switchis fixed in position relative to said support body so that rotation ofsaid control lever about one of said at least two separate axes bringssaid control lever into operating contact with said at least one switchand rotation about another of said at least two separate axes has nooperating influence on, and does not move, said at least one switch.